Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish
| Astacopsis gouldi | |
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| Dry museum specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Crustacea |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Decapoda |
| Family: | Parastacidae |
| Genus: | Astacopsis |
| Species: | A. gouldi |
| Binomial name | |
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Astacopsis gouldi Clark, 1936 |
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Modelled distribution of Astacopsis gouldi Magenta: species likely to occur Light pink: species may occur Purple: translocated populations |
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The Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi), also called Tasmanian giant freshwater lobster, is the largest freshwater invertebrate in the world. The species is only found in the rivers below 400 metres (1,300 ft) above sea level in northern Tasmania, an island-state of Australia. It is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List due to overfishing and habitat degradation, experts estimate there are less than 100,000 in the wild.
The diet of the freshwater crayfish varies with age, but predominantly consists of decaying wood, leaves and their associated microbes. They may also eat small fish, insects, rotting animal flesh and other detritus when available.A. gouldi is very long-lived, surviving for up to 60 years. It has previously been reported to attain weights of up to 6 kilograms (13 lb) and measure over 80 centimetres (31 in) long; however, in recent years the majority of larger specimens are 2–3 kilograms (4.4–6.6 lb). When fully mature the species has no natural predators due to its large size, while smaller individuals can be prey of platypus, river blackfish and rakali.
Although a crayfish, the species is locally known as the giant freshwater lobster. Historical accounts suggest the Aboriginal Tasmanians referred to freshwater lobsters as Tayatea.
The specific epithet of the scientific name, Astacopsis gouldi, was assigned in 1845 and honours the convict artist, William Buelow Gould. Gould's 1832 Sketchbook of Fishes includes the first-known representation of the species. The species was first formally described in 1936 by Ellen Clark, a naturalist specialising in Australia's crustacean.
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